Andy Robson Explained

Genre:Children's drama
Director:Tony Kysh
Composer:B A Robertson
Endtheme:"The Best of Friends"
by Barbara Dickson
Country:United Kingdom
Num Series:2
Num Episodes:20
Producer:Michael W. Esthop
Company:Tyne Tees Television
Runtime:25 mins
Channel:ITV

Andy Robson is a 1982 British children's television series, produced by Tyne Tees Television, which aired on the ITV network for two series in 1982 and 1983. It was based on Frederick Grice's novel The Courage of Andy Robson, published in 1969.

Plot

Set in Edwardian England and starring Tom Davidson as the eponymous hero, the series concerned the adventures of Andy, who had been sent from a coal mining town in County Durham in North East England, to live with his aunt and uncle in rural Northumberland after his father was injured in a pit accident. The series also starred Stephanie Tague and Stevie-Lee Pattinson as Victoria and Alec, two of Andy's friends in his new surroundings.

Cast

Tom DavidsonAndy Robson
Stevie-Lee PattinsonAlec Cowen
Stephanie TagueVictoria Dennison
Jack WatlingMatthew Dennison
Norman JonesAdam Charlton
Marlene SidawayFlorrie Charlton
Peter BagleyDickie Cowen
Richard SteelePC Pierce
Malcolm TerrisMr Craggs
Jill GreenacreHelga Mueller
George SewellPeter Mueller
Jeremy MawdsleyBilly Craggs
Katja KerstenFrederika Mueller
Eric NicholsonInspector Tyler
Gordon GriffinMr Robson
Richard WilsonMr Ridley
Rosalind BaileyMrs Robson
Elizabeth EdmondsMiss Inskip
Alan FossLord Rothwick
Sheri ShepstoneBessie Reed
Jonathan BurnHarris
Michael GoughArthur
Ivor SalterPC Coates
Anthony SteelHerbert Neville
Hayley PurvisSchool Child
David LevisonTom Ritson

Production

Music

The series' theme tune, "Best of Friends" was written by BA Robertson and Alan Parker and sung by Barbara Dickson. A full song running 3'20" was recorded but never commercially released, although it can be heard on Dickson's official YouTube channel. An abridged version accompanied the closing credits of the television series.